Crush4Fun – is OUR definition of an "Online Crush"

“What else is out there? Might there be some mystical zing of spice you are missing? Could you become a better teacher, citizen, and human by volunteering outside of your country?” When a charming, 6-foot Boston based English teacher found herself pondering over these questions, she decided to listen to her heart and take a yearlong break from teaching to travel around the world.

Lillie Marshall’s camaraderie with travel began when she traveled solo during her college summers, volunteering at a preschool in London and a rural village in Mexico. Even though, after college Lillie joined the Boston Public Schools as a high school teacher, she continued to keep her bond with travel alive by visiting a new country in Latin America every summer to volunteer for teaching English or take Spanish classes.

Then in the summer of 2009, after 5 years of teaching at Charlestown High School, the time had finally arrived for Lillie to explore the fascinating diversity out there, step outside of her comfort zone, and fulfill her dream of experiencing the newness, uniqueness, and the gamut of excitement that the world had in store for her. She set out on a journey that has been a medley of thrilling adventures, valuable learning, heart-felt contentment, cherished bonding, and eye-opening events. In a span of nine months, Lillie voyaged across eight countries including Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Ghana, Spain, and Portugal, not merely as a visitor, but a passionate traveler who harbored a deep desire to participate in humanitarian causes and develop love for the contrasting culture of developing nations. The talented teacher and our latest travel crush confesses that the three months that she spent in Ghana, teaching English and running an international pen-pal exchange program in a youth center, has been the most amazing time of her nine months around the world.

Lillie’s blog – Around the World “L”! not only contains her engrossing travel stories with valuable advice and travel tips weaved into them, but also fascinating tales written by her very own former ESL students, allowing the readers a sneak peek into the intriguing experiences of her students around the world. The passionate teacher who aspires to create a lifelong career that combines writing, international travel, helping society, and teaching, has set an example for all the wanderlusters to extend their skills across boundaries and uplift the lives of those who are less fortunate.

Be a part of Lillie’s journey by visiting Around the World “L” and get inspired to embark on your adventurous gap year. Speaking of career breaks, our latest crush coordinated the Boston chapter of the nationwide movement on career break and extended travel – Meet, Plan, Go!, that recently took the world by storm on September 14th 2010, inspiring countless travel aspirants to break away from their daily grind and escape from their cubicles.

Are you ready to experience your very own “Around the World” jaunt like Lillie? Begin your adventure by exploring the unconventional travel opportunities, the USA tours, Los Angeles tours, New York tours, and Grand Canyon tours by Tours4Fun.